Wednesday, 19 September 2012

Ah Big Yaws?

Having been in South Africa for all of a few hours, I have, of course, bought myself a dictionary. I can't help it and I admit that I have a problem. In this case I have bought a copy of Ah Big Yaws? A Guard to Sow Theffricun Innglissh by Rawbone Malong, which helpfully renders English phrases into South African pronunciation. For example, the title means "I beg yours", as in pardon.

The idea is that if a Woozer says "Big poured in?", you should and could reply "Ah big yaws."

As the book itself explains "Wyall, uttsa saw-toffa-kine-doffa guard to yow peeble spick."

Just say it aloud and it'll all make sense. In a few months, I'll be fluent.

First of all, as this is my first comment though I have been following your superb and delightful blog for some time, may I say thank you for all the scrumptious scraps you toss our way. Secondly, as Rob Young points out, the definitive guides to Australian - "Let Stalk Strine" and to Received Pronunciation - "Fraffly Well Spoken" were written by Alastair Ardoch Morrison under the name Afferbeck Lauder and published in 1965 and 1968. They were followed by "Nose Tone Unturned" and "Fraffly Suite". I'm sure you know all this but these "exercises de style" enchanted me back then and still do today. It's good to know the tradition is being kept up.

Thanks Laura - today I too resolved to say something for the first time after following this great blog for a while AND I was going to share Afferbeck Lauder. Or, in other words, "Egg jelly, aorta dunnit garbler mince oilier"...

Taste the Elements of Eloquence

The Horologicon is out in America

The Horologicon is a book of the strangest and most beautiful words in the English language arranged by the hour of the day when you will really need them. Words for breakfast, for commuting, for working, for dining, for drinking and for getting lost on the way home. It runs from uhtceare (sadness before dawn) to curtain lecture (a telling off given by your spouse in bed). It's out all over the world and you can buy it from these lovely people: